Combination cigarette lighter and flashlight



Jan. 17, 1950 M. LEIF 2,494,886

COMBINATION CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND FLASHLIGHT Filed Feb. 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor I6 /5 Max Leif Jan, 17, 1950 M. LEIF COMBINATION CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND FLASHLIGHT Filed Feb. 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Max Leif Patented Jan. 17, 1950 COMBINATION CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND .FLASHLIGHT Max Leif, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application February 26, 1947, Serial No. 730,910

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in combined cigarette lighters and flashlights and more particularly to a cigarette lighter mechanism and flashlight contained in a single case whereby to provide the equipment necessary for the two above referred to elements in one complete structure and which may be conveniently carried in the pocket of a person.

An important object of the present invention is to provide apocket case of this character adapted to contain a cigarette lighter and a flashlight together with a cover for the lighter in which the flashlight bulb is carried and arranged for moving the bulb into contacting position with .a battery carried in the casing upon an openingmovement of the cover to energize the bulb, the bulb being deenergized and the lighter extinguished by the closing of the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pivoted cover of this character carried by the case together with a single spring device for holding the cover in both its open and closed positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a separate cover for the flashlight battery which is swingable into open position together with the cover for the l ghter and in which both of said covers function to alternately retain the battery in position in the case when the covers are in their open and closed positions.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which will be attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case with the covers shown in closed position;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the upper part of the case and with the covers shown in open position;

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the case showing the covers in open position and with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure '7 is a similar view showing the covers in closed position;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the a pertured retaining cap for the battery;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the rear end of the cover for the cigarette lighter; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the case showing the covers in open position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral '5 designates a combined cigarette lighter and flashlight case which is preferably of sub stantially rectangular shape and formed adjacent one end with a vertically extending chamber 6 for containing the lighter fluid and in which the usual wick 1 is positioned and which projects upwardly through an opening 8 in the top of the case. The usual flint wheel 9 is mounted on the top of the case adjacent the wick I to function in the usual manner.

The top of the case adjacent the center thereof is formed at its side edges with a pair of upstanding spaced apart lugs ill in which a transversely extending pin II is secured for jpivotally mounting the lower inner side [2 of a cover l3 thereon, the cover being open at its bottom and adapted to swing vertically on the pin. Ii into and out of position for covering the wick l and flint wheel 9.

The lower rear edges of the sides l2 of the cover is formed with a right angle corner 14 to include a horizontal ledge 15 and a vertical edge 16 when the cover is in closed position as shown in Figure 1 and adapted for engagement by a spring projected plunger ll recessed in the upper edge of the case 5 to exert its influence on the cover at a point immediately below the pin II to retain the cover against idle Swinging movement in either an open or closed position as indicated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the cover being swung manually in either its open or closed position against the tension of the spring.

The top of the cover I3 is provided with a chamber 18 adapted to hold a flashlight bulb [9, the inner end of the chamber being formed with a socket 20 in which the base of the bulb is threadedly engaged and a retaining ring 2| is threaded in the outer end of the chamber to hold the bulb in position. The coil spring 22 is positioned between the outer end of the bulb and the retaining ring to provide suitable engagement therebetween.

The rear end of the chamber [8 is closed by 3 a rear wall 23 having an opening 24 therein through which the contact 25 at the base of the bulb projects and is suitably insulated therefrom.

The rear end of the case is formed with a vertical chamber 26 in which a flashlight battery 21 is received, the chamber 26 being open at the top of the case to place the battery therein and to remove the battery therefrom when desired to replace the same.

A cap 28 is sleeved over the upper end of the battery and extends into the top of the chamber 26 and is formed with an opening 29 in the top thereof to expose the contact 30 at the upper end of the battery. A coil spring 3! is positioned between the top of the battery and the cap 28.

A second cover 32 which is open at its front and bottom portions and is hinged at its lower rear edge to a pin 33 carried by the rear edge of the case. A conventional spring 34 mounted on the pin 33 urges the cover 32 to an open position.

The side and top edges of the front end of the cover 32 are telescoped with the rear end of the cover [3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and an upper open edge 35 of the cover 32 rests on the top of the cover 13 so that an opening movement of the cover 13 likewise moves the cover 32 into its open position. The cover 32 thus closes the rear end of the cover [3 and also closes the top of chamber 26 to thus cover the upper end of battery 27.

A lug 36 projects inwardly and downwardly from the rear wall of the cover 32 to engage the top of cap 28 to hold the cap downwardly on top of the battery 21 when the covers l3 and 32 are in their closed position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In this position the bulb I9 is out of contact with the battery and the bulb is thus deenergized.

By opening the cover 13 to expose the wick l and flint wheel I9 of the lighter, the cover 13 is swung from its horizontal position as shown in Figure 2 into its vertical position as shown in Figure 3 whereupon the base 25 of the bulb is moved into contact with the contact 30 of the battery to thus energize the bulb. At the same time the cover 32 is swung rearwardly into its open position as shown in Figure 3 and the rear end of the cover l3 then engages the cap 28 while the lug 36 is moved out of engagement therewith, the rear end of the cover 13 thus serving to hold the cap 28 in position when the covers are open.

The movement of the cover 53 into its open position thus closes the circuit for the flashlight and exposes the lighter mechanism for use thereof. The closing of the cover extinguishes the lighter and at the same time deenergizes the bulb.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

An elongated pocket case having a flashlight battery therein whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the case and an exposed terminal on the battery, a first cover hingedly and resiliently mounted on said case, a second cover overlapping said first cover hingedly and resiliently mounted on said case and overlying said terminal, an elongated bulb removably secured to said first cover, the longitudinal axis of said bulb being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said battery when said first cover is in a fully closed position, an apertured cap on said battery about said terminal, and a lug projecting inwardly and downwardly from said second cover to engage said cap and hold the battery down when said second cover is in a closed position, the base of said bulb being adapted to contact said terminal when said first and second covers are in a fully opened position.

MAX LEIF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,763,874 Zook June 17, 1930 1,875,650 Pemberton et al. Sept. 6, 1932 1,883,546 Campos et al. Oct. 18, 1932 1,897,627 Zook Feb. 14, 1933 1,900,348 Jones et al. Mar. 7, 1933 2,066,028 Britsch Dec. 29, 1936 2,075,883 Britsch Apr. 6, 1937 2,087,460 Wallace July 20, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 294,325 Germany Sept. 30, 1916 

